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HomeMy WebLinkAboutmin brd of selectmen 08/31/2005 Present: Town of Mansfield Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 31,2005 II/IN r IELD Acting Chairman Bernard Dolan, Clerk David McCarter, SetehMi~1j"J6ETTS Amoruso and Selectman Michael McCue Town Manager John D' Agostino CE: Vf:.' c...,d is OFF ICE I 5 AM 10: I 0 r The Board of Selectmen's meeting was called to order by Acting Chairman Dolan at 7:30 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Mr. Dolan asked the board and audience to observe a moment of silence for State Representative Mike Coppola, who passed away earlier in the week. Fred Armstrong introduced Pastor Ted Newcomb and explained that "Rally Day" is traditionally the day church school starts up after the summer. The church traditionally holds a picnic at the event, and this year they would like to invite the whole town. Pastor Newcomb explained the day of this party falls on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He said the event is an attempt to build community, and noted the clergy from a number of churches in town have been meeting for several months to foster a level of understanding and welcome. r Mr. Dolan asked ifthere would be any permits or police details necessary. Pastor Newcomb explained they have taken care of all the town-related items. Pastor Newcomb asked if there is anything the churches should know in order to better interact with the community. Mr. Dolan said he thought the churches reaching out to the AI-Noor Academy is a helpful thing. Mr. McCarter said opening the free event up to everyone in town, and commemorating September 11 will be positive. He said he would like to see that remembrance continue. Pastor Newcomb said the church's outreach program is planning an appeal for the Hurricane Katrina victims, and will receive gifts for that purpose at the September 11 event. Mr. McCue thanked Pastor Newcomb for coming to the meeting and said he thought it would be nice for the church community to continue the September 11 commemoration. He said he has been thinking about having a rally for the troops overseas. Pastor Newcomb said his congregation has been planning a veteran's luncheon prior to the September 11 event. Mr. D'Agostino said the town's Veteran's Agent would be happy to supply a list of names for that luncheon. Mr. McCue said the town tries to subsidize heating costs for those in need, and said this season will be very difficult. He said the churches might be able to provide some assistance. Mr. r- Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 31, 2005 . T r Armstrong said the church works with the Westside Benevolent Society, especially during the holidays. Mr. Amoruso said the biggest local issue this year will be to look out for those in need, and the churches in town do a good job assisting those people. Pastor Newcomb said non-profit organizations like his church have had to reach out to the community more inthe last few years, with less government funding available. Airport Commissioners Lou Andrews, Howard Fiske, Phil Finer, Bob Andrews, Carl Lambrecht joined the board. Mr. Fiske explained there are three major projects going on at the airport, and there have been a number of minor projects completed. Mr. Andrews explained construction has begun on the Quadrant Four project. The first project is a space for 25 aircraft tie-downs, which will alleviate the problem of storing aircraft on the grass. The second project is for new hangars, which will be condominiums sold to individual owners. He said for the first time, the town will receive tax benefits from the airport. There will be an access road to this quadrant from Fruit Street. The third project is a snow equipment removal building, a three-bay garage with a meeting/training room, office and kitchen facility. He said there will be room available for town boards and committees. Mr. Andrews said the work is funded by FAA, MAC and airport fees. Mr. Andrews said the taxiways between the hangars must be updated, but funding for that work is difficult to secure. He said the terminal building is not in good shape, and they are considering r trying to get funding through a transportation bond bill. Mr. Amoruso asked if anything would be done to alter the angle the dirt runway meets the paved runway; Mr. Andrews said that would be addressed next year. Mr. Finer said the runway lighting system is being upgraded with FAA funding. Mr. Finer said the runways have been extended for safety purposes. Mr. McCarter asked about traffic volume; Mr. Fiske said fuel flow is 3-4 percent lower than last year. Mr. D' Agostino said that may be a function of gas prices. Mr. Dolan asked about the gas tank at the airport; Mr. Fiske said the tank is about 12 years old. Mr. Andrews said it is an 8,000 gallon tank, and the delivery trucks tend to be 10,000 gallons, so getting the tank filled is more expensive. Mr. Fiske said the tanks are surrounded by seven inches of concrete. Mr. McCarter commended the commission for all its accomplishments. He asked about blimps using the airport; Mr. Fiske said they are here sporadically, primarily during sporting events. Mr. Dolan asked about hot air balloons; Mr. Fiske said there are still some that use the airport. Mr. McCue asked about site security; Mr. Andrews said the new card system is installed. He said the airport receives no federal funding for security; all the security is funded by the state. Mr. Dolan said the airport's system is a very good one. r Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 31, 2005 2 r- Mr. Fiske invited everyone to the September 10,2005 is the Experimental Aircraft Fly-In from 9 am-3 pm. Mr. D' Agostino said he has received a letter about the Women's Air Race from resident Cathy O'Donnell. Mr. Fiske said this is an annual event, and Mansfield may be the finish line in 2008. . Warrant No.9 in the amount of2,936,445.15 Motion: To approve (Amoruso-McCue) Three in favor. McCarter abstained from payroll. PASSES . Warrant No. 10 in the amount of$2,346,188.78 Motion: To approve (Amoruso-McCue) Three in favor. McCarter abstained from payroll. PASSES . Regular Session Minutes of August 17,2005 Selectmen's Meeting Motion: To approve (Amoruso-McCue) All in favor. PASSES . Executive Session Minutes of August 17,2005 Selectmen's Meeting Motion: To approve but not release (Amoruso-McCue) All in favor. PASSES . Establish fee for one-day entertainment licenses Mr. Dolan suggested $75, which is the same as a weekday entertainment license. Motion: To establish the fee for a one-day entertainment license at $75.00 in accordance with MGL 140, subsection 183A (McCue-Amoruso) All in favor. PASSES ("' . Application for a One-Day Entertainment License from New Enijland Ringside for a boxing match on Saturday, September 17th at Dana Barros Sports Complex Mr. D' Agostino explained the State Boxing Commission has licensed New England Ringside for this event. Mr. Dolan noted the routing slips have all been returned and none of the department heads have any concerns. Mr. McCue said he didn't feel the board has had enough time to review this application. Mr. D' Agostino said the application was submitted while he was on ~acation, and there was a question as to how it should be handled. Mr. McCue said he wa~ aware of when it came in, but still felt it is a very short timeframe, since it is not something !that has been done in Mansfield. He said he understood there would be some income for local businesses, but is concerned that Mansfield not become the "boxing mecca" of Ma$sachusetts. Mr. Dolan said these events would have to be looked at on individual cases. Mr.1 Amoruso said he would not want to see boxing happen in Mansfield regularly, does not like the sport in general, and he would not vote in favor of it. Motion: To approve the one-day entertainment license at the Dana Barros Sports Complex on September 17,2005 provided it satisfies Police and Fire Department requirements (McCue-McCarter) r Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 31, 2005 3 r ("' r- Mr. Dolan said there have been a number of hotel rooms reserved tor the event, and said local restaurants would benefit. Mr. Amoruso said when this facility WtS permitted there was never any discussion about boxing matches, and he may have voted diff~rent1y if he had known that. Mr. McCarter said it is a legal sport and there would be no reaspn not to issue the one-day permit. Mr. Dolan said he would like more time to review applicati~ns like this in the future. He said during the board's permitting of the liquor license, there ~as no discussion of boxing matches, at which he said there may be more than casual drinking. ! Mr. McCue said the board is given a certain degree of discretion o+er legal uses; in granting an entertainment license, it is within the board's purview to exercise itE discretion. He said even if something is legal, it may not be something the town would want to ree. Mr. Amoruso said the event is expected to draw 1,000 people, whic~ will mean around 250 cars, and he is concerned about parking and traffic. i Mr. Dolan noted there is no representative of the applicant at the to ask the discussion be continued until a full board is present. to answer questions or Three in favor. Amoruso PASSES . Mr. D' Agostino presented the board with a draft letter to supporting Governor Romney's increase in Chapter 90 Motion: To sign the letter (Amoruso-McCue) All in favor. state representatives . Letter from Rodman Ride for Kids requesting permission for the Rodman Ride for Kids to pass through Mansfield on Saturday, October 1 st. The letter has been routed to Police and Fire; there are no objections I Motion: To approve the Rodman Ride for Kids (McCue-Amor9so) All in favor. PASSES I . Memorandum from DPW Director Lee Azinheira to Selectmen's Office regarding action items from the Board's August 17th meeting. i . Memorandum from Town Manager regarding a Fairfield Green +eeting, I . Preliminary statement of rating from Moody's Investors Service. Mr. D'Agostino said the town has retained its A 1 status. . Memorandum from Town Manager John D'Agostino regarding t e TOD planning study for the Mansfield Train Station. . Letter from Senior Engineer David Field to Town Engineer John I Sullivan submitting his letter of resignation, effective September 9,2005. Mr. McCarter said Mr. Field has been with the town for nine years and will be taking a position in De4am. The board agreed Mr. Field has done a good job for the town and will be missed. I Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 31, 2005 4 . Letter from resident George Dentino requesting information. r . Letter of resignation from Conservation Commission member C istine Weaver. Motion: To accept her resignation and send her a letter ofth (Amoruso-McCue) All in favor. PASSES . Letter from Police Chief Arthur O'Neill regarding a four-minute overage at the Anger Management concert on August 10th. . Letter from Tweeter Center General Manager Bruce Montgomer regarding the overage at the August 10th Anger Management concert. Motion: To notify the Tweeter Center of the fine for the four m nute overage (Amoruso-McCue) All in favor. PASSES Mr. McCue said Tweeter has done a good job this year avoiding verages. . Memorandum from Kurt Gaffney, Water Operations Manager re arding the Phase I water ban and is requesting the Phase I water ban be extended from Se tember 1, 2005 to October 1,2005. Motion: To extend the Phase I water ban (Amoruso-McCue) II in favor. PASSES .r Mr. McCue said he is pleased the town has not needed to go bey nd Phase I. Mr. D' Agostino said the town has not had to run the Albertini Wells t all this summer because it has planned well. Mr. Dolan said the residents should be thanke for their efforts and asked that to continue. I Mr. D' Agostino said he has the bond authorization to consolidate th town's loans, including the latest capital improvements appropriations. He explained this will s ve the town approximately $1.4 million on its bond indebtedness and will level the town's bond payments. Mr. McCue said Mr. Boucher should be thanked for his work on this issue. Motion: That the sale of the $22,820,000 Municipal Purpose Loan f2005 Bonds (the "Bonds") ofthe Town dated September 1,2005, to First Southwest Company t the price of $23,616,377.85 and accrued interest is hereby confirmed. The Bon shall be payable on August 15 of the years and in the principal amounts and bear interest at the r spective rates, as follows, subject to earlier redemption at the option of the Town as provided i the Preliminary Official Statement dated August 18,2005. Year Amount Interest Rate Year Amount Interest ate 2006 625,000 3.50% 2012 2,425,000 3.625% 2007 615,000 3.25 2013 2,325,000 4.50 2008 325,000 3.375 2014 2,300,000 4.50 2008 900,000 4.00 2015 1,770,000 4.00 2009 990,000 3.375 2015 500,000 4.50 2009 225,000 4.00 2016 2,010,000 5.00 2010 2,325,000 3.50 2017 1,895,000 5.00 2010 375,000 4.25 2018 545,000 3.875 ("' Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 31, 2005 5 r r r 2011 2011 825,000 1,620,000 3.625 4.50 2019 180,000 2020 45,000 4.00 4.00 Further voted to confirm the provisions of the Bond Purchase Agree ent dated August 24, 2005 including the consent to the purchase of the Bonds by First Southwe t Company on a negotiated basis. (McCarter-Amoruso) All in favor. PASSES Mr. D' Agostino provided the board with a draft of the clock plaque or the train station. The clock was originally on Town Hall, which burned down on Decemb r 20, 1970. Mr. Amoruso asked that the wording be changed to say "The new train station buil~ing opened. . ." Motion: To approve the wording of the plaque (McCue-Amoruso) ~ll in favor. PASSES Mr. D' Agostino said he recently participated in a municipal advisoJ council meeting with Blue Cross/Blue Shield regarding cost containment, prescription drugs an policies that towns would like to see implemented to result in reductions. He said he will be king the Mass Municipal Managers Association to conduct seminars and lobby legislature for unicipal relief by modifying Chapter 32B to make it easier for municipalities to offer ompetitive packages to its employees. He said as the private sector begins to look at cost cont nment, it becomes important for towns to look at the same products. He said this group was formed at the request of Blue Cross/Blue Shield. I Mr. McCue asked if there was any discussion about municipalities g tting involved in impact bargaining. Mr. D' Agostino said the issue was raised, but noted the tate has recently voted to go back to its old split for premiums. He said that may not work for ost municipalities. Mr. McCue said with impact bargaining and severability, all of the town s unions would have to agree to any changes, and if one did not agree, the changes could no be made. Mr. D' Agostino said during the last negotiations, the unions were very cooperative. ! I Mr. D' Agostino said the Light Department has been to the Conservation Commission regarding the Bird Road substation. They discussed siting the substation in th~ back portion of Fram Estates, which is protected by Natural Heritage. Lifting that designation would require a unanimous vote of the commission; the commission voted unanimoqsly not to lift those restrictions. Mr. D' Agostino said this vote will hinder the site selectfon process along the transmission lines and there will have to be further discussion about ~iting. I Mr. D' Agostino said he has a coffee hour scheduled for September ~2nd at the Council on Aging. Among the topics to be discussed will be a community school, whic~ may include a new Council on Aging. He said there would be study to look at this possibility; f4nds have been put aside from what the town received last year from the Deutsche Bank TOurfament at the TPC. Mr. D' Agostino said the family of Mike Coppola has brought the to~ a bouquet of flowers in appreciation for its support. I Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 31, 2005 6 {' Mr. McCarter thanked Mr. D' Agostino for arranging a meeting Buckland of the Cecil GrOUP regarding the TOD proposals at the train station. He said the has the opportunity to work cooperatively with several landowners in the area. He said he s not sure he is comfortable with the idea of a parking garage, but said he is willing to be open- inded about it if it is incorporated into the area and is aesthetically pleasing. He said the Irst hurdle is to decide whether there is the need for more parking. He said he would like t bring that land onto the tax rolls. He asked Mr. D' Agostino to put together a map showing the roperty owners and existing private and public parking. Mr. McCarter asked if Mr. Buckland w uld do a presentation for the board and the public. Mr. D' Agostino said he would arrange that. e said this will be a good opportunity to both change the landscape of that area and to link tha area to downtown. He said he would like to have pedestrian crossings over Route 106, perhaps om the common to North Main Street. Mr. McCarter asked about a policy regarding the use of gas by town employees. He asked if there are areas where fuel consumption could be limited; Mr. D' Ag stino said he would look into that. He said most of the use is by Police and Fire, which will e hard to limit. Mr. McCue mentioned the event in Foxboro for Mike McGinty on eptember 11. He said it is a charitable event for a scholarship fund, which is for Foxboro and M sfield students. I Mr. McCue mentioned the commemoration of the 60th anniversary fthe end of World War II in Meeting Room 3 aJb on Friday from 9a.m.-12p.m. (' Mr. McCue said when he was chairman, the board held a meeting at the Council on Aging and suggested another remote meeting. The board discussed the train s tion; Mr. Amoruso said the acoustics are not good and there are no chairs available. Mr. D' Ag stino noted any location would have to be handicapped accessible. ! I I Mr. McCue asked about the fire truck that was loaned to Norwood ut was not recertified because of the necessary repairs. Mr. D' Agostino said he believes i is being stored at the North Main Street station, but the town has a limited amount of storage sp ceo He said there was initially a minimum bid established for $25,000 for the sale of the t ck, but there were no bids received. Mr. Dolan said he there must be a market for this truck, e pecially in smaller towns, and suggested donating it to a town that could use it. Mr. D' Agosti 0 said small towns tend to have regional departments, are funded by several towns and therefo e don't have the need for a second-hand truck. Mr. McCarter asked if Mansfield can use the ck; Mr. D' Agostino said it cannot be used because it is not certified. Mr. D' Agostino said he ould talk with Chief Bellavance about the options. Mr. Amoruso asked how Norwood c uld have used it if it is not certifiable; Mr. D' Agostino explained the certification was valid w~ile Norwood had it but now has exp~red. H~ s~id it ~ould be put out ~o. bid again, but th~ town i~ not obligated to accept any of the bIds, nor IS It obhgated to put a mmImum amount on It. I I I Mr. Amoruso said there have been letters in the newspaper about C~mcast and high definition television; he said it appears that when one of the Rhode Island stat~ons gets the ability to broadcast in high definition, Mansfield will get the Rhode Island fe,d and not the Boston feed. r Board of Selectmen Minutes of August 31, 2005 7